Apparatus for conveying materials

ABSTRACT

Workpieces such as metal billets and various other small metal parts are handled in bulk form and conveyed from a loading station into a heating furnace or other processing unit by means of a conveyor mechanism of the elevator class commonly referred to as a ram-type loader. Travel of the workpiece along the conveyor mechanism is controlled in an improved manner and regulated by means of a special billet-feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus is arranged to cooperate with the conveyor mechanism and provide intermittent feeding at a predetermined rate of advancement which may be limited by required processing conditions within the heating furnace.

United States Patent Vossler et al.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Inventors: Richard G. Vossler, Lexington;

William E. Brock, Norwood, both of Mass.

Assignee: Eastern Refractories Co., Inc.,

Belmont, Mass.

Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 210,807

2,714,832 8/1955 Seed et al. 198/30 X Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Munroe 1-1. Hamilton [57] ABSTRACT workpieces such as metal billets and various other small metal parts are handled in bulk form and conveyed from a loading station into a heating furnace or other processing unit by means of a conveyor mechanism of the elevator class commonly referred to as a ram-type loader. Travel of the workpiece along the conveyor mechanism is controlled in an improved manner and regulated by means of a special billetfeeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus is arranged to cooperate with the conveyor mechanism and provide intermittent feeding at a predetermined rate of advancement which may be limited by required processing conditions within the heating furnace.

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PAIENTEDum 30 ms SNIU 08 0F 10 lzweaztoaw APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling workpieces such as metal billets and various other small metal parts which are required to be handled in bulk and conveyed from a hopper or other loading station into a processing unit such as, for example, a heating furnace. Conveyor mechanisms of the elevator class employed to move the workpieces from one level to a relatively higher level are commonly referred to in the art as ram-type loaders and are well known in the art as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,532, U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,973, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,547 ,253.

In the operation of these prior art machines, difficulties may arise in utilizing them for certain specific feeding requirements, particularly where workpieces must be located in suitably oriented relationship, and the rate of feeding is required to be regulated in accordance with conditions imposed at the furnace or other processing unit. This is particularly the situation where frequent change in the size and shape of the billets or other workpieces must be taken into account.

It is an object of the invention to deal with the problems suggested and to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling workpieces such as metal billets and various other small metal parts which are required to be handled in bulk.

Another object is to devise an improved method and means for transfering workpieces from the elevator in suitably oriented relationship to one another and for regulating the rate at which the workpieces are led away from the conveyor mechanism and advanced through a heating furnace.

Still another object is to provide for feeding a workpiece in an apparatus which can be conveniently attached to a ram-type loader and adjusted to deal with variations in the size and shape of workpieces to be conveyed.

With the foregoing problems and objectives in mind, we have devised an improved method and apparatus for handling workpieces in a precisely controlled manner, and an important feature of our invention is the provision of novel sorting and transfer means arranged to cooperate with an elevator of the ram type loader class. Another important feature resides in the combination with the sorting and transfer means of a uniquely controlable feeding apparatus.

The nature of the invention an its other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a hopper, elevator mechanism and heating furnace together with apparatus of the invention for handling workpieces conveyed by the elevator mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front elevationalview of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing one side of the hopper and elevator mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail elevational view of feeding apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in cross section of portions of the elevator mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the elevator mechanism in another position of adjustment;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 and illustrate still further positions of the mechanism in conveying billets along an upward path of travel;

FIG. 11 is a detail elevational view of billet feeding apparatus of the invention;

FIGS. 12 to 16, inclusive, are views similar to FIG. 1 l and illustrate various sequential positions of adjustment of the feeding apparatus;

FIG. 17 is a cross section taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 is a cross section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a cross section taken on the line 19-19 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a cross section taken on the line 20-20 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a wiring diagram illustrating electrical con trols for operating the apparatus as shown in the drawings;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are detail cross sectional views of billet bridge mechanism;

FIG. 24' is a detail elevational view of pneumatic control means;

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 25-25 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 26 is a detail fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 25.

In one preferred embodiment, the invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for handling workpieces such as small cylindrical metal billets and moving these billets into an oven or other heating device where the billets may be subjected to heating for a required interval of time necessary to prepare the billets for subsequent processing. The cylindrical billets may vary in size and shape and one typical form may, for example, have a diameter of approximately 1 36 inches and a length of approximately 2 inches.

The invention is hereinafter described in reference to handling cylindrical billets of the class indicated above and feeding the billets into a heating enclosure, but it should be understood the invention is not intended to be limited to handling cylindrical billets and in fact may be desired to handle various other small metal workpieces of various sizes and shapes and the feeding procedure may be utilized in feeding workpieces into various other work stations where processing in one form or another is to be carried out either with or without heating.

The structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally I includes a hopper H for containing a quantity of metal billets in bulk form; an elevator mechanism M of the ram-type loader class for moving billets out of the hopper and along an upwardly directed path of travel; a heating enclosure E to which billets are to be delivered for processing; a transfer unit T arranged at the upper end of the elevator mechanism; and a billet feeding apparatus F located between the transfer unit T and the enclosure E.

Considering these parts in greater detail, the hopper H is of any desired type, and in one conventional form, may consist in a box-like container into which a quantity of billets may be dumped. The hopper is preferably supported in a raised position on legs as 2 and 4 and at an inner side may be provided with a vertically adjustable plate 6 or door which can be raised to provide a discharge opening through which billets may pass out of the hopper and onto the elevator mechanism M, as suggested in FIGS. 1, 7 and 10.

The latter structure M is also of conventional form consisting in a ram-type loader of a class well known in the art in which a series of juxtaposed plates or rams are subjected to vertically reciprocating movement at either side of stationary plate elements. The loader includes vertical side walls as 8 and 10, secured by bolts, welding or other suitable fastening means to angle iron frame pieces as 12, 14 and 16, as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 4.Transversely located between the sides 8 and 10 is a rigid wall section 18 to which are solidly fastened brackets as 19 and 20, and between the brackets is secured a pneumatic cylinder 22, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive.

Cylinder 22, when actuated from a controlled source of compressed air raises and lowers adjustable plate components as P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, P10, etc. (FIG. 4) These plates components are secured between movable side portions as 8a and 10a. The upper plunger end 22a of the cylinder 22 is fastened, for example, to a transverse part 22b secured between the movable side portions 8a and 10a, as shown in FIG. 2, and also indicated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10. The movable side portions are still further shown in detail in FIG. together with a movable plate P10. Transversely mounted between the stationary side walls 8 and are stationary plate components as PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PI, PI, etc. Both the movable and plate members are formed with upper angled work-lifting surfaces of conventional form, as shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate portions of the loader structure in cross section in several different positions assumed in carrying out a typical loading operation. Thus, FIG. 7 illustrates billets W1, W2, W3 moving out of hopper H with billet W1 in a position to start along an upward path of travel in the manner well known in the art. It will be noted that in a starting position, billet W1 is engaged by movable plate Pl, as shown in FIG. 7 and is moved upwardly into a position such as that shown in FIG. 8, with billet W2 moving down to fill the space vacated by the billet W1. FIG. 9 shows the completion of the cycle of movement with the billet W1 now held by the stationary plate PB, while the movable plate P1 is returned to a starting position to pick up billet W2, as shown in FIG. 10. Further details of a ramtype loader construction and opertion may be had from the disclosure of the loader patents noted above.

It will be appreciated that the elevator or loader plates in moving up and down and progressively raising billets from one level to another tend to induce a tumbling action with some billets falling back down the elevator plates and others being retained but falling over upon one another in a randomly disposed manner. It is essential to receive and arrange randomly disposed billets arriving at the upper end of the elevator in a suitable position for feeding to a work station. An important consideration in dealing with these randomly disposed billets is provision of a suitable method and means by which most of the billets are turned into a suitably oriented position and the remaining billets are rejected and caused to fall into a return chute which communicates with the main hopper H.

In accordance with the invention, we provide an improved method for transfering billets and we have devised a transfer unit which includes a tiltable sorting tray and a transfer trough located immediately below the sorting tray. The sorting and transfer devices cooperate to turn billets over and transfer them away from the upper end of the elevator in a path of travel extending substantially at right angles to the path of travel of billets being carried upwardly by the elevator.

Randomly disposed billets delivered with each upward stroke of the movable conveyor plates are dropped into the sorting tray which constitutes a semicylindrically shaped member, periodically swung or rotated into a tilted position. As the sorting tray makes its tilting movement, billets are either tilted rearwardly and fall back down the elevator mechanism, or they roll down into the transfer trough where they tend to collect in a somewhat longitudinally disposed position, one upon another.

the sorting and transfer unit generally described above is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1, 4 and 26, and as shown therein, numeral 30 denotes the sorting tray located at the upper end of the elevator immediately above the transfer trough 32. Sorting tray 30 is mounted for tilting movement on a shaft 34, tranversely disposed, for example, between the sides of the elevator as shown in FIG. 1. Fixed to the outer end of shaft 34 is a link 36. One extremity of link 36 is pivotally attached to the actuating rod 38, and the opposite end of link 36 is pivotally connected to a counter weight rod 38a, at the end of which is suspended a counter weight 40. The lower end of actuating rod 38 is engaged with a bracket part 42, in turn, solidly secured to one of the movable sides of the elevator at some convenient point.

By means of the arrangement described, upward travel of the movable sides periodically allows the actuating rod 38 to move upwardly, thus tilting the sorting tray into a dumping position immediately above the transfer trough 32, as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 26. Billet return chute HR is located along one side of the elevator with an upper open end being positioned below the sorting tray and transfer trough exit end, in a position to receive rejected billets.

The transfer trough 32 is constructed preferably in two sections which may lie in spaced apart relation to define a generally V-shaped bottom 32a, through which extends a transfer slot 32b. The trough 32 may be supported at the upper side of the elevator in some convenient manner as, for example, by means of a vertical frame piece 44 fixed to an extension part of the elevator sides. This frame piece supports one section of the trough and the other section may be bolted or otherwise fastened to the return chute HR at 46, as indicated in FIG. 4.

Fastened on the elevator frame as shown in FIG. 4 is a vertical bracket part 48 which supports on upper and lower angle iron pieces 48a and 48b a pneumatically operated cylinder 50 having a plunger element 52. The cylinder 50 and its plunger element 52 operate an oscillating transfer blade 54 which comprises a thin blade body of a thickness such that it may move freely between the spaced sections 32a of trough 32 while substantially filling this space at all points therealong (FIG. 25). At its lower end, the transfer blade 54 is mounted on a stub shaft 56 transversely secured through one section of the trough.

Plunger 52 is provided with a yoke part 60 pivotally attached to a link 62, and the upper end of link 62 is rigidly connected to the transfer blade 54 at 64 in a position such that when the plunger 52 is moved upwardly, the transfer blade 54 is rotated from the normal full line position shown in FIG. 2 into the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

An important feature of this transfer blade construction resides in making the transfer member with an irregular shape and of a size such that the blade may function as a blocking gate when in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2, and at all times when approaching and leaving the dotted line position. The effect of this is to prevent any billets from having an opportunity to enter the transfer trough in back of the transfer blade while it is in forward travel. It will be apparent that by maintaining a substantial blade surface area in front of the sorting tray at all times during forward travel, no billets can drop into a position where they can be ejected accidentally from the trough during the return stroke of the blade, and any possible injury to an operator is avoided.

The transfer trough 32 is also employed to control operation of the elevator mechanism by electrical means. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 26, the transfer trough 32 is provided at its inner bottom section with electrical control means including a pair of separated conductor plates 32c and 32d. The plates are electrically isolated and when a billet bridges the space between the two sections of the trough, assuming the billet is of an electrically conductive composition, a circuit is closed, as hereinafter described in the wiring diagram of FIG. 21, and this in turn opens a circuit in control of the elevator cylinder. By means of this electrical control arrangement, movement of billets into the trough from the sorting tray can be halted and thereafter regulated to provide for an empty transfer trough before the elevator mechanism starts again. The electrical circuit described also makes it possible for repeated operation of the transfer plate to insure clearing ,the transfer trough before the elevator mechanism operates again. As noted above, this electrical control means is further illustrated in connection with the description of the wiring diagram of FIG. 21.

With one, or possibly two or more, billets sorted and arranged in the transfer member in a substantially longitudinally disposed relationship, forward movement of the transfer blade 54 operates to slide billets along the trough and out of the right-hand end of this member, as viewed in FIG. 2, towards an inclined transfer chute 68. A further important feature of the invention consists in a method and means for insuring that all billets entering the inclined transfer chute 68 are in axially disposed alignment and also in abutting relationship to constitute a train of such axially aligned billets. To this end we have provided a billet-aligning bridge over which each billet must cross before it reaches the transfer chute. This aligning bridge is indicated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings and is denoted by reference character 70.

It is the purpose of this billet-aligning bridge to deal with billets not in proper alignment so that they are caused to fall off the bridge into the return chute HR and thence return to the hopper H.

Included in the bridge member are two channel sections 70a and 70b which are formed with flanged ends as 70c bolted to the underside of the transfer chute 68, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Adjustment screw 70d and 70e detachably hold the channel sections together in a position to form a V-shaped channel 70f. The channel 70f may be of a size suitable for receiving a relatively large diameter billet and guiding this billet into the transfer chute 68, as shown in FIG. 22. In FIG. 23, the channel sections are shown bolted together in a reversed position with respect to one another so as to form a narrow guide channel 70g for guiding billets of a small diameter, where such a size workpiece is to be handled.

As earlier noted, the invention method is specifically described with reference to a work station consisting of a heating oven or furnace in which the billets are to be heat processed. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, the transfer chute 68 may have an upper end portion supported on the return chute HR at 74 by welding, bolting or the like, and at its lower end, the chute 68 is secured to a horizontal frame base 76. The frame base 76 is secured to one side of the heating oven E and has a projecting end bearing on an angle bracket 78. A lower end of bracket 78 is held in an angle iron part 80, welded to a vertical leg 82 of the oven E. The leg 82 at its upper extremity is attached to a horizontal bar 84 connecting with one side of the heating oven, as is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is pointed out that the transfer chute 68, when supported in the manner described above, extends downwardly at an angle such that billets delivered into the chute 68 will be acted upon by forces of gravity. These gravity forces, therefore, cause the billets to slide downwardly with a very considerable momentum, and still another important feature of the invention is the provision of a method and means for arresting billets and regulating the movement of individual billets along and out of the chute 68 intermittently in order to provide for each billet being subjected to heating for some given dwell period in the oven.

In accordance with the invention, we regulate travel of billets at both the upper and lower ends of the chute 68 to provide a novel and precise control of feeding. Attention is directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein is shown an upright member fixed to a base part 92 on member 76. At one side of the upright 90 is a bracket 94 which has supported thereon a yieldably disposed sensing probe 96 arranged to extend downwardly into the path of travel of billets moving therealong. The probe 96 may be pivotally supported at 96a so that it is readily swung upwardly away from the chute when a sliding billet contacts the lower end of the probe and passes underneath it.

When a sufficient number of billets are retained in the chute so that an uppermost billet is arrested in a position to pivot the sensing probe 96 upwardly and hold it from returning to its normal vertically disposed position, a control switch 96b, also illustrated in the wiring diagram of FIG. 21, is actuated to interrupt oscillating movement of the transfer blade 54 and the elevator plates. Thereafter, no more billets will be advanced across the bridge member 70 until the chute 68 is cleared sufficiently for the probe 96 to return to its normal vertically disposed position. Details of the operation of the control circuit of FIG. 21 are hereinafter set forth.

Regulation of billet feeding at the lower end of the chute 68 is carried out by a special billet-retaining and feeding mechanism indicated in part in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, and shown in greater detail in various positions of adjustment in FIGS. 11 to 20. As shown therein, numeral 100 denotes a retaining arm pivotally supported on a pivot element 102 received in the upper end of upright member 90. The arm 100 extends angularly downwardly and is located between the sides of a channel guide 104, mounted at the upper edge of the horizontal member 76.

At the lower end of arm 100 is fastened an extension part 106 which supports a retainer block 108 in which is adjustably received a retainer rod 110. The retainer rod is adjustably held in block 108 so that it may be moved toward and away from the chute 68 at a point to retain a lowermost billet in the chute. Adjustment of the retainer rod may be made to accommodate billets of varying diameter. FIG. 11 illustrates the retaining rod 110 in a position to arrest and retain a billet B in the transfer chute 68.

Arranged immediately below the lower end of discharge chute 68 is a horizontally disposed V-shaped billet track 1 14 which is fixed to the horizontally frame part 76 and also joined to an inlet side of the oven E. A reciprocating billet pusher element 116 formed with a V-shaped cross section coinciding with the V-shaped track 114 is slidably supported on the billet track 114 and is connected by means of a threaded end portion 118 to a piston rod element 120 of a pneumatic cylinder 122 which functions to move the pusher 116 forwardly and rearwardly. The cylinder 122 is bolted or otherwise attached to the horizontal frame part 76 and is connected to a source of compressed air. Operation of this pneumatic cylinder is controlled preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 21, by the electrical circuit shown therein, with one solenoid advancing and a second solenoid retracting.

Secured to the track member 114, as best shown in FIGS. 11 16, is a length-adjustment stop assembly which includes a slotted bar 124 adjustably held by adjustment screws as 126 and 128. Also secured at the outer side of slotted bar 124 is a vertically adjustable stop holder 130 which is slotted to receive therethrough adjustment screws as 132. Fixed at an inner side of stop holder 130 is a stop element 134 which is arranged to lie above the path of travel of billets moving along the track 114. The stop element 134 is secured in a position of vertical adjustment such that a billet on the track 114 may readily slide under the bottom surface of the stop, but when a billet is supported on the pusher element 1 16, the billet will project above this bottom surface into a position such that one end will abut the stop and be held.

With the arrangement described, it will be apparent that there may be realized both a length adjustment and height adjustment for accommodating billets of varying axial lengths and diameters. It will also be seen that the pusher element 116 operates to engage against billets dropping from the chute 68 onto the track 114 and to push a train of these billets periodically along so that billets are successively advanced into and through the heating oven E to undergo heating for a period of some desired duration.

In addition to the basic function of advancing billets, we may utilize movement of the pusher forwardly to control the timing of a reset period for a timing device such as the illustrated in FIG. 21, or we may preferably control timing of the reset period electrically as hereinafter described in detail in reference to the operation of the circuitry of FIG. 21. When inducing mechanical activating of the timing device by movement of the pusher, we may employ an actuating bar 140 which is located in a position such that it may move into and out of engagement with a cam element 141. The cam 141 may, for example, be pivoted on the horizontal member 76 adjacent to a switch 143, also secured to the member 76. The cam, by opening and closing the switch 143 controls the reset period for the timer device above described.

In combination with the threaded end portion 118, we further provide an L-shaped lever 142 pivotally attached to member 76 at 144. A lower end of lever 142 extends downwardly into the path of travel of the threaded end portion 118 and the upper end of the lever is located in a position to engage against an underside of the extension part 106. When the plunger 120 of cylinder 122 is extended, threaded end portion 118 contacts the lower end of lever 142 causing it to rotate on its pivot 144 to thereby swing the opposite end of the lever upwardly and raise the retaining member through a small arc of rotation sufficient to clear a passageway for a billet moving in the chute 68.

In operating the billet feeding mechanism abovedescribed a train of billets, as billets B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5, are moved downwardly along the chute 68 under the control of the sensing probe 96 as described above and a lowermost billet as B5 may arrive at a holding position and be retained as shown in FIG. 1 1, in which position the lower end of billet B5 is held by the retainer member 110. At predetermined intervals, the pusher member 116 is activated to move it from a fully retracted position such as shown in FIG. 15 to an extended position as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

In FIG. 11, a pusher 116 is illustrated at a point in which it has advanced sufficiently for the threaded end portion 1 18 to engage against lever 142, at which point, the retaining member 110 is still in its holding position. In thus moving ahead, the pusher element has advanced billets as B6 and B7 a short distance to provide a cleared space in back of billet B6. In FIGS. 12 and 17, the pusher has moved further forwardly and the threaded end portion 118 has pivoted the lever 142 upwardly to raise the retainer out of contact with billet B5. The latter member is shown starting to drop down into the pusher element 116.

In FIG. 13, the billet B5 has completed its downward movement into the cleared space in pusher 116 and the billets B6 and B7 have again advanced toward oven E. In this position, the billet B5 has come into contact with the length adjustment stop 134 while the opposite end of billet B5 is in a holding position with regard to billet B4. In FIG. 14, a further step is illustrated with the pusher element 116 and the lever 142 having been partly retracted sufficiently for the retaining member 110 to drop down into sliding contact with the upper side of billet B5.

In FIGS. 15 and 19, the pusher 116 is again indicated in its fully retracted position, during which travel the forward end of the pusher has been pulled back from under billet B5 and the latter member has now dropped down on the track 114 in a relatively lower position such that it may pass under the length adjustment stop 134. FIGS. 16 and 20 illustrate the pusher again moved forwardly pushing the billet B along track 114 away from stop 134 into a position earlier assumed by billet B6.

In FIG. 24 there is shown for use with the structure above-described an air pressure regulator APR together with a lubricating device L for use in lubricating air which is delivered to the pistons. Also included with the air regulator and the lubricating device is a filter member FR.

From the above description of the transfer and feeding apparatus of the invention, it will be apparent that we have provided a method and means of travelling billets through a work station such as a heating oven in a carefully limited sequence. In thus controlling movement of the workpieces, we avoid overloading and accumulation of excessive quantities of billets in the transfer trough, the transfer chute, and also in the track area which approaches the inlet side of the work area.

As further illustrative of a typical work-handling operation, for example, in moving billets through a heating oven E, reference is had to the electric control circuits shown in FIG. 21. Included in the wiring diagram are switches SW-l, SW-2, SW-3, SW-4, SW-6 and SW-7, and billet switch BSW. Before operation of the machine starts, it will be understood that all pneumatic cylinders employed are held in a fully retracted position under air pressure available from an existing supply. At such time, SW-l, which controls the main power line, is in an off position. Also at such time SW-2 is in an off position. SW-3 is closed. SW -4 is closed. SW-6 is held closed by the retracted end portion 118. SW-7 is in a normally closed position, and billet switch BSW is open with no billets in the trough 32.

Switch SW-l is shown on the control panel in FIG. 2 and controls the main power line when turned on by an operator. Switch SW-2 is also located on the instrument panel shown in FIG. 2 and is manually operated. Switch SW-2 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, being attached to the movable part of the pneumatic cylinder 50. Switch SW-4 is shown in FIG. 4 and also in FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive and operated by a movable part of the pneumatic cylinder 22. Switch SW-6 is located in FIGS. 11 to 16, inclusive, and is operated by an end part 118 of the pusher 116. Switch SW-7 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is operated by movement of the sensing probe 96.

In operating these switches to carry out a workhandling operation with the invention method, assuming that the hopper H is supplied with a quantity of billets, the main power switch SW-l is turned to an on" position. This energizes the machine through suitably selected fuses and circuits and specifically energizes the pusher-cycling circuit. The pusher system consists of a master interval-timer device T-3, a pusher-dwell timer T-4, a transformer TR-3, a pneumatic cylinder 122, equipped with necessary valves operated by solenoids Sol-3 and solenoid Sol-4, and switch SW-6 which selects the proper circuit to be energized by reference to the physical position of the pusher 116 and timing device T-5.

With the pusher 116 moving forwardly and backwardly in a precisely timed and continuous manner, the operator then turns switch SW-2 to an on" position. This energizes the billet transfering system which includes the elevator mechanism and the transfer device above-described. As shown in FIG. 21, switch SW-2, when closed, energizes the timing device T-l through switches SW-3 and SW-4. When the timing device T-l is timed out, its contacts TC-l close and energize solenoid Sol-l, causing pneumatic cylinder 22 to advance, lifting the elevator blades. A control device causes automatic retraction of the cylinder 22 as it reaches full stroke. This continues cycling until a billet closes the billet switch BSW. Switch BSW energizes relay coil R-l which interupts the circuit to solenoid Sol-l by means of relay contact RC-4 and prepares the transfer circuit to solenoid Sol-2 by closing relay contacts RC-S. As timer T-l times out, the circuit is energized to solenoid Sol-2 causing transfer cylinder to advance, moving blade 54.

A control device causes automatic retraction of cylinder 50 as it reaches full stroke. If the transfer blade has removed all billets from trough 32, switch BSW is opened and relay coil R-l is de-energized, causing solenoid Sol-1 circuit to be restored and interrupting solenoid Sol-2 circuit. If billets remain in the trough 32, billet switch BSW remains closed, preventing further operation of the elevator mechanism and recycling the transfer mechanism.

Assuming billets accumulate in the chute 68 to a point where the probe 96 is held in a raised position, switch SW-7 is opened energizing relay coil R-2 which, in turn, opens relay contacts RC-3, interrupting both elevator and transfer solenoid circuits and holding them out of operation until billet travel releases the probe 96. Also provided in the circuit is an optional timer T-2 which operates if a billet has not activated the probe 96 during each feeding interval of the elevator mechanism. This constitutes a signal device indicating to the operator that he is out of billets.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure of the invention that we have devised a method and apparatus which is characterized by a very desirable degree of flexibility in adapting to varying working conditions and a wide range of adjustments are combined with extremely precisely controlled operating periods for several different machine components.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for handling workpieces comprising in combination a hopper for receiving a quantity of workpieces, loader mechanism for conveying workpieces upwardly along an inclined path of travel, a sorting tray rotatably mounted at the upper end of the elevator mechanism for sorting conveyed workpieces and arranging them in a predetermined position of orientation, a transfer receptacle located at one side of the sorting tray for receiving sorted and oriented workpieces, a transfer element for moving oriented workpieces out of the transfer receptacle, a workpiece guide secured at one end of the transfer receptacle and a transfer chute connected to the guide and extending angularly downwardly to slidably support a plurality of workpieces, and feed means adjustably supported at the end of the chute for selectively advancing individual workpieces to a delivery point.

2. In an elevator mechanism of the ram-type loader class for moving workpieces out of a hopper in an upwardly directed path of travel, the combination of a work-feeding apparatus including a conveyor mechanism, a tiltable sorting tray into which workpieces are moved by the conveyor mechanism, a transfer chute arranged to receive workpieces from the tiltable sorting tray and to slidably support a train of the workpieces in abutting relationship to one another along an inclined chute surface, means for actuating said tiltable tray, retainer means adjustably supported at the lower end of the transfer chute for releasably engaging with a lowermost workpiece in the train and holding it in a stationary position for a short interval, a workpiece track located below the transfer chute for guiding workpieces in a desired path of travel away from the transfer chute to a delivery point, and means for selectively removing individual workpieces from the track and periodically advancing individual workpieces along the track to the said delivery point.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the transfer chute means includes a transfer trough having a slot centrally located therethrough, a transfer element mounted for oscillating movement through the slot in the trough and said transfer trough including angularly disposed sides extending upwardly from opposite edges of the slot for locating the workpieces in a predetermined position of orientation as they enter the said trough in the path of travel of the oscillating transfer element.

4. A structure according to claim 2 in which the elevator mechanism is of the ram-type loader class in which vertically reciprocating plates are arranged in juxtaposition to stationary plates and the said means for moving the tiltable tray is operable in response to movement of the elevator mechanism and includes a shaft for rotatably supporting the sorting tray and an activating linkage connected between one end of the shaft and the vertically movable plates.

5. A structure according to claim 2 in which the transfer chute includes a billet aligning bridge consisting in a pair of guide plates adjustably secured to one another in spaced apart relation and presenting upper inclined surfaces which define a narrow passageway along which the billets may be confined in axial alignment.

6. In a mechanism for conveying workpieces from a container into a work-processing station, the combination of a work-feeding apparatus including a transfer chute, means for moving workpieces from the container into the transfer chute and means for selectively removing individual workpieces from the transfer chute and feeding said individual workpieces into the work-processing area at predetermined intervals, said means for selectively removing and feeding said workpieces comprising a horizontally disposed track located below the transfer chute and extending into the work area, a reciprocating pusher element slidably received along the track, retainer means for holding a train of workpieces in the transfer chute, and means responsive to movement of the pusher element to actuate the retaining means and release individual workpieces from the train, said retainer means including a supporting frame, an arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a retainer rod adjustably supported therein, a lever element rotatably mounted at one side of the frame and engageable with the pivotally mounted arm, and an actuating bar fixed on the pusher element and movable into and out of contact with the lever to raise and lower the retainer rod, said supporting frame having mounted thereon an electrical switch and a pivoting switch operator located in the path of travel of the said actuating bar to control movement of the pneumatic cylinder for the pusher element. 

1. An apparatus for handling workpieces comprising in combination a hopper for receiving a quantity of workpieces, loader mechanism for conveying workpieces upwardly along an inclined path of travel, a sorting tray rotatably mounted at the upper end of the elevator mechanism for sorting conveyed workpieces and arranging them in a predetermined position of orientation, a transfer receptacle located at one side of the sorting tray for receiving sorted and oriented workpieces, a transfer element for moving oriented workpieces out of the transfer receptacle, a workpiece guide secured at one end of the transfer receptacle and a transfer chute connected to the guide and extending angularly downwardly to slidably support a plurality of workpieces, and feed means adjustably supported at the end of the chute for selectively advancing individual workpieces to a delivery point.
 2. In an elevator mechanism of the ram-type loader class for moving workpieces out of a hopper in an upwardly directed path of travel, the combination of a work-feeding apparatus including a conveyor mechanism, a tiltable sorting tray into which workpieces are moved by the conveyor mechanism, a transfer chute arranged to receive workpieces from the tiltable sorting tray and to slidably support a train of the workpieces in abutting relationship to one another along an inclined chute surface, means for actuating said tiltable tray, retainer means adjustably supported at the lower end of the transfer chute for releasably engaging with a lowermost workpiece in the train and holding it in a stationary position for a short interval, a workpiece track located below the transfer chute for guiding workpieces in a desired path of travel away from the transfer chute to a delivery point, and means for selectively removing individual workpieces from the track and periodically advancing individual workpieces along the track to the said delivery point.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the transfer chute means includes a transfer trough having a slot centrally located therethrough, a transfer element mounted for oscillating movement through the slot in the trough and said transfer trough including angularly disposed sides extending upwardly from opposite edges of the slot for locating the workpieces in a predetermined position of orientation as they enter the said trough in the path of travel of the oscillating transfer element.
 4. A structure according to claim 2 in which the elevator mechanism is of the ram-type loader class in which vertically reciprocating plates are arranged in juxtaposition to stationary plates and the said means for moving the tiltable tray is operable in response to movement of the elevator mechanism and includes a shaft for rotatably supporting the sorting tray and an activating linkage connected between one end of the shaft and the vertically movable plates.
 5. A structure according to claim 2 in which the transfer chute includes a billet aligning bridge consisting in a pair of guide plates adjustably secured to one another in spaced apart relation and presenting upper inclined surfaces which define a narrow passageway along which the billets may be confined in axial alignment.
 6. In a mechanism for conveying workpieces from a container into a work-processing station, the combination of a work-feeding apparatus including a transfer chute, means for moving workpieces from the container into the transfer chute and means for selectively removing individual workpieces from the transfer chute and feeding said individual workpieces into the work-processing area at predetermined intervals, said means for selectively removing and feeding said workpieces comprising a horizontally disposed track located below the transfer chute and extending into the work area, a reciprocating pusher element slidably received along the track, retainer means for holding a train of workpieces in the transfer chute, and means responsive to movement of the pusher element to actuate the retaining means and release individual workpieces from the train, said retainer means including a supporting frame, an arm pivotally mounted in the frame and having a retainer rod adjustably supported therein, a lever element rotatably mounted at one side of the frame and engageable with the pivotally mounted arm, and an actuating bar fixed on the pusher element and movable into and out of contact with the lever to raise and lower the retainer rod, said supporting frame having mounted thereon an electrical switch and a pivoting switch operator located in the path of travel of the said actuating bar to control movement of the pneumatic cylinder for the pusher element. 